Pool stick recommendations for a family member $100 - $150
- Thread starter trueblu8
- Start date
Well how serious is the player? At that price I’d suggest he/she just get what they like because they will probably want something else later on. If already semi-serious buy a used plain jane “real” Viking/McDermott. Not the lower lines of Valhalla/lucky. Really any good used manufacturers cue. Better shaft wood(usually) for the same price as a new lower line cue from them. Just sucks you can’t make sure the cue listed straight is straight until you receive it. And a lot of manufacturers cues can play a little different so there are a lot of variables in choosing a cue for more serious players.
And obviously if said family member is putting on a CF shaft none of that^^
matters much except get what they like
One guy on our APA team uses a Walmart cue with screw on tips and hasn’t even thought about changing his stick. He’s about to be a 4.
My woman has a McDermott Lucky and doesn’t want a different stick. Says it plays fine and won’t let me order her a custom.
I also have a couple friends with Valhallas that like them.
None of those play as good as my cues do. But that’s just an opinion. Different people like different things.
And obviously if said family member is putting on a CF shaft none of that^^
matters much except get what they like
One guy on our APA team uses a Walmart cue with screw on tips and hasn’t even thought about changing his stick. He’s about to be a 4.
My woman has a McDermott Lucky and doesn’t want a different stick. Says it plays fine and won’t let me order her a custom.
I also have a couple friends with Valhallas that like them.
None of those play as good as my cues do. But that’s just an opinion. Different people like different things.
Last edited:
Schmelke.
Don't even think about anything else.
Bang for your buck, it can't be beat. Put a decent tip on it and you are done…
Don't even think about anything else.
Bang for your buck, it can't be beat. Put a decent tip on it and you are done…
For a new player, the variety of styles, patterns, and designs are going to be a bigger deal than for someone that has been at it for a while. I'd suggest that you tell them to go to Seybert's, or Ozone, or whatever on-line shop, and do the filter with the limit at whatever price you want to spend, and let them pick out their cue. There's significant value in their pride of ownership, and you can't really buy too bad of a cue from those big sellers.
I bought my GF a nice older McDermott with a deep purple colored butt section, since she likes purple. She constantly comments on those butts with the purple tribal designs, and really, she'd have been happier with one of those to start.
If it's at all possible, I'd suggest that you let your new player pick their cue.
I bought my GF a nice older McDermott with a deep purple colored butt section, since she likes purple. She constantly comments on those butts with the purple tribal designs, and really, she'd have been happier with one of those to start.
If it's at all possible, I'd suggest that you let your new player pick their cue.
I have specific experience with both Players and Schmelke “sneaky Pete” cues under $150 — you can’t go wrong there.
CageyCraigey
New member
Of he likes all wood cues without wrap Imperial Drifter Sneaky Pete is great at $75 a cue. I am just having them make me a break cue as well.
Pawn shops can be a great source of used quality cue for a good price.
You can roll them on their glass countertops to check for straightness and rollout.
Start off by offering about 1/2 of what they are asking if they are in good condition.
They probably only paid 1/4 to 1/3 of what they are asking.
I have bought at least 10 top brand name cues from pawn shops over the years, some still had their factory labels on them.
You can roll them on their glass countertops to check for straightness and rollout.
Start off by offering about 1/2 of what they are asking if they are in good condition.
They probably only paid 1/4 to 1/3 of what they are asking.
I have bought at least 10 top brand name cues from pawn shops over the years, some still had their factory labels on them.
Please let us know what you're findings are.So far I like it. bought the White Pearl because I just don't like all-dark sticks. Makes me depressed.
Got a Viking cue for the butt. My Cuetic Avid butt didn't look as nice with the Whyte as it did with the Cynergy.
Better than the Cynergy? Maybe a little, but maybe not. I just had my Cnyergy retipped. I'll give both a lot of side by side. Both are great.
Many years ago Pawn shops were a good place to find cue deals. Today my experience is that most pawn shops love internet pricing when selling a cue but down play internet pricing when buying a cue.
So a seller to pawn shops gets 30% of market value and the pawn shops I have visited over the past several years won’t go below 70% of present cue internet values when selling.
Not a good place to buy cues anymore as a reseller - but sometimes OK place for keeper cues.
Yes there are some outlier pawn shop deals - usually on unsigned cues if you know your stuff - or where someone takes over a pawn shop and their prior owner had some cues stored and the new owner has no clue about cues- I have run into that as well.
TipWilson
Well-known member
Great basic cues here.
Their stuff is also on Amazon, which is where I prefer to order from. I own 3 of their cues.
Their stuff is also on Amazon, which is where I prefer to order from. I own 3 of their cues.
Choppertwo
Member
MCdermott,players or action,they won't be fancy for that price but for a novice,the person will be fine